Occupational screenings: recruitment from private industry

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Clinical Trial Recruitment
• Public Health Research

Background:

• Recruiting participants for clinical trials, such as the CPPT, often involves occupational screening of private sector employees.
• This recruitment strategy generates high initial contact volumes but a low conversion rate to study entry.
• Occupational screening demands significant resources and meticulous planning for effective implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of occupational screening in the private sector for clinical trial recruitment.
• To describe the procedures for industry engagement and screening implementation.
• To analyze the relationship between company size and screening yield.

Main Methods:

• Utilized occupational screening of private sector employees across all participating centers in the CPPT.
• Documented procedures for contacting industries and conducting on-site screenings.
• Analyzed recruitment data, including initial contacts, first protocol visits, and final entries.

Main Results:

• Occupational screening contributed 26% of initial contacts, 20% of first protocol visits, and 17% of entries in the CPPT.
• The screening process was resource-intensive, requiring careful logistical arrangements.
• A significant inverse relationship was observed between company size and screening yield.

Conclusions:

• Occupational screening is a viable, albeit resource-demanding, method for generating clinical trial participants from the private sector.
• The lower yield in larger companies suggests a need for tailored recruitment approaches based on organizational size.
• Effective planning and streamlined procedures are crucial for optimizing occupational screening efficiency.